Take a break at Breakers in Topinbee

Take a Break at Breakers in TopinabeeBy C.J. RayAt the crossroads of good times and good food, sits a rustic, lakeside tavern loaded with history, dating back to 1940. The Breakers Bar & Grill sits across the street from Mullet Lake in the small town of Topinabee. Antique photographs from the area cover the knotty pine walls.The Breakers is a local watering hole for everybody, says owner Derrick Schittekat. Its gone through several changes since the 1940s. The horseshoe bar, and kitchen were added a few years ago, and we just finished our exterior patio, offering outdoor dining with a spectacular view of beautiful Mullet Lake.The Breakers draws boaters in the summer with its long private dock, and snowmobiles during winter with easy access from the trail running along Straits Highway. We are about 100 feet off the trail that runs through Topinabee, and we even get an occasional plane that lands on the frozen lake in the winter, Schittekat says.

DINING OPTIONS:We offer the areas best pizza starting at $7.99, house made soup, and Breakers chili, shrimp, fish, and chicken, Schittekat says. Corned beef, turkey, and pastrami sandwiches, pitas, and the famous Breakers burger. Our meat is fresh, and of the highest quality possible. The olive burger is a favorite of most, although our pizzas are gaining strength in popularity.Breakers has plenty of snacks and starters, like buffalo wings with a spicy hot BBQ sauce at $7.99. Buffalo shrimp jammers at $6.50, or con queso dip with chips $5.99. Enjoy the famous Breakers burger starting at $4.75, or the Shamrock -- pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and 1000 Island dressing served on an onion roll at $5.99. On the lighter side, Big Als pita is filled with diced chicken tenders, lettuce, tomato, mayo and Swiss at $6.25. You will also find a kids menu for 12 and under starting at $4.50.Wet your whistle at the bar with domestic and imported beers and a huge selection of spirits. If youre really thirsty, try the 60 oz. margarita in strawberry, raspberry or mango flavors, or the traditional sweet & sour. Breakers prides itself on its customer service.We try to create a down-home kind of atmosphere, where everybody is comfortable, like the old TV show Cheers, where you would expect to see Norm sitting at the end of the bar holding a mug of beer, Schittekat says. Also new, is the soup & salad bar, and daily lunch specials. We have more plans for expansion in the near future. We are currently adding a large, full-service kitchen that will allow us to add many more items to our menu, and someday we plan to add a second story to the existing building. You can also enjoy your favorite sports game on one of 15 TVs, challenge your skills in a game of pool, and enjoy live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night. Breakers also offers a few arcade games for the young and the young at heart.

For good food and drink, where everybody is welcome, stop in at the Breakers located at 967 N. Straits Hwy., Topinabee. You can also visit them at www.breakersbar.com or call (231) 238-0108. For more restaurant reviews by C.J. Ray, visit www.purenorthernmichigan.com.